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So, lately I've been considering names.... like not names themselves but what they are. A name is the label attached to you from birth (unless you change it)... it's what people call you by so you know that they're talking to you and what people who know you refer to you as (usually).

On the internet in one-on-one chatting or just plain talking face to face the necessity of being called by your individual name becomes null. You know you're being talked to so there's no idea to stress the point. Calling someone by their name too much can be annoying.

But, on the other hand it's nice to be called by your own name or even a nickname once or even a couple times over the course of an extended conversation/discussion. Because being called by a name or nickname means that you're acknowledged as an individual with you're own existence and sentience. The generic and genderless "you" is convenient and practical a lot of the time but it's nice to feel that you have your own presence and personality that distinguishes you from the rest and that the person you're talking to realizes that. Hell, even if you have a generic presence and personality it's nice to have someone acknowledge you're individual existence.


Japanese for the day:
Namae
Name

Watashi/boku/ore wa hito
I am a person